JPS62115126A - Electrochromic element - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make an electrochromic element (ECD) to a multicoloring, without depending on an inherent color of a coloring layer by providing with a colored reflective material of light of a colored transmission material of light to any one offelements constituting the element. CONSTITUTION:The red, green or blue colored reflective material 9 is supported with a carrier 7 in an ion donator layer 8 of the liquid type ECD 1. Plural numbers of cells of the ECD 1 are arranged in the title element in such a way that 3 kinds of adjacent colorings the said of said cells are a red, a green and a blue respectively. When the voltage is impressed between born electrodes 3 and 5, a respective coloring layer 6 colors to a strong blue whereby the transmittance of the light remarkably reduces and the coloring layer 6 hides the reflective material 9 of the light, and the color coloring of the reflective material 9 becomes invisible from an upperward. When the coloring layer 6 is decolored, as the decoloring is carried out to be a transparent, the color coloring of the reflective material 9 of the light becomes an uppeward. Thus, end ECD can be multicolored, without depending on the inherent color of the coloring layer 6.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Object of the Invention (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an electrochromic device.

(Prior art and problems to be solved by the invention) Electrochromic devices (hereinafter abbreviated as ECD) are
An element whose color and light transmittance change reversibly by inducing a redox reaction in the electrochromic substance in the element when a voltage is applied from the outside, and which has features not found in LEDs or CDs. Practical implementation is progressing.

However, since conventional ECDs depend on the unique colors of the coloring layer, there is a problem in that it is difficult to produce multiple colors. However, depending on the material of the color-forming layer, it has been found that various colors can be produced by changing the voltage, but this has not yet been put to practical use.

With the recent trend toward multicolor displays, EC
There is also a growing demand for multicolor D. The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problems and provide a practical electro-rochromic element capable of producing multiple colors at a low cost.

Structure of the Invention (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a colored light-reflecting material or a colored light-transmitting material in any of the elements constituting the ECD. I adopted this method.

(Function) Once the coloring layer of the ECD develops a color, the coloration hides the colored light-reflecting material or the colored light-transmitting material, so that the color of the light-reflecting material or the light-transmitting material becomes invisible.

Further, when the coloring layer is decolored, the color of the light reflecting material or the light transmitting material is visible through the coloring layer.

Therefore, even if you do not rely on the unique color of the color-forming layer, by coloring the light-reflecting material or the light-transmitting material with any color, you can
Multi-color CDs are possible.

(First Embodiment) Hereinafter, a first embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in a liquid type ECD will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

The ECDI of this embodiment is a cellular liquid-type ECD used in reflection mode, and has dimensions of 100× as shown in FIG.
Substrates 2 and 4 made of 100x1% soda lime glass plates
It is formed in

That is, on the upper surface of the lower substrate 2, there is a lower transparent electrode 3 made of ITO (indium tin oxide) with a thickness of about 2000 Å.
is formed by high frequency ion blating method.

Also, on the lower surface of the upper substrate 4, an upper transparent electrode 5 made of ITO is provided with a reduction coloring layer 6 similar to the lower transparent electrode 3.
is formed by an electron beam method (CEB method).

The lower transparent electrode 3 and the reduction coloring layer 6 are supported by a support 7 facing each other, and between them is a layer having a thickness of about 0.5 mtn made of a mixed electrolyte of propylene carbonate and lithium perchlorate. An ion donor layer 8 is enclosed.

Further, within the ion donor layer 8 , a light reflecting material 9 colored red, green, or blue is supported by the support 7 . Since this light reflecting material 9 is made of porous ceramic plates colored in respective colors, ions can move through the light reflecting material 9.

Here, in the present invention, coloring refers to coloring other than white.

Incidentally, the side surface of the ECD1 is sealed with a stopper material 10 to prevent the ion donor layer 8 from leaking.

A plurality of ECDl cells configured as described above are arranged in a row as shown in FIG. 2, and arranged so that the colors of the three adjacent ECDl's are red, green, and blue, respectively.

Now, in each ECD 1 arranged as described above, when a voltage is applied between both electrodes 3 and 5, the reduction coloring layer 6 develops a deep blue color (close to black) called tungsten bronze, and has a high light transmittance. Decrease. Therefore, since the reduction color forming layer 6 hides the light reflecting material 9, the color of the light reflecting material 9 cannot be seen from above.

Further, when the reduction coloring layer 6 is decolored, the color is erased to almost transparency, so that the color colored on the light reflecting material 9 can be visually recognized from above through the reduction coloring layer 6.

Therefore, even if it does not depend on the inherent color of the reduction coloring layer 6,
ECD by coloring the light reflecting material 9 with an arbitrary color
Multi-coloring is possible.

In addition, in this embodiment, since the colors in the three adjacent ECDIs -〇- are arranged to be red, green, and blue, which are the three primary colors of light, these E
If the CDI is driven in a matrix, a multicolor screen can be obtained. Note that by utilizing the fact that the reduction color forming layer 6 develops a blue color, a blue color can be obtained even if the conventional white light reflecting material 9 is used.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in an all-solid-state ECD will be described with reference to FIG.

The ECD 21 of this embodiment is a cellular all-solid-state ECD used in a reflection mode, and is formed on a substrate 11 made of a soda lime glass plate with dimensions of 100 x 100 x 1 m.

That is, on the upper surface of the substrate 11, there is a lower transparent electrode 12 made of ITO (indium tin oxide) and having a thickness of about 2000 Å.
is formed by high frequency ion blating method. On the upper surface of this lower transparent electrode 12 is an oxidized coloring layer 13 made of N1px (nickel oxide) and having a thickness of approximately 6000A.
．． Made of 1-a2Q5 (tantalum pentoxide), approximately 5o thick
An ion donor layer 14 of ooA and a reduction coloring layer 15 of about 6000A thick made of WO3 (tungsten oxide) are laminated in this order.

Further, an upper transparent electrode 16 made of ITO and having a thickness of about 2000 Å is formed on the upper surface of the reduction coloring layer 15.

A light reflecting material 17 printed in red, green, or blue is provided on the lower surface of the lower transparent electrode 12.

There are several types of all-solid-state ECDs, but in terms of durability, a pair of electrodes 1 like the ECD 21 of this embodiment
A type in which the oxidation coloring layer 13, the ion donor layer 14, and the reduction coloring layer 15 are laminated between 2.16 and 2.16 is advantageous. Compared to the type with a single coloring layer, redox reaction occurs in both coloring layers 1
3.15 occurs in a complementary manner, so there is no gas generation due to side reactions, and there is little deterioration of the ECD 21 due to corrosion.

The method of use and arrangement of this second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, and the same effects are achieved.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-mentioned embodiments, and may be modified and embodied as desired without departing from the spirit of the invention, for example, as described below.

(1) In addition to arranging a plurality of independent ECD1, 21 cells as in the above embodiment, the following means can be adopted. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, multiple sets of transparent electrodes 3, 5 and coloring layers 6 are provided in one ECD cell by masking and etching techniques, and adjacent light reflecting materials 9 are colored with different colors. This is a method of applying This is an all-solid-state EC
D can also be implemented.

(2) EC used in transmission mode as well as reflection mode
It can also be embodied in D. In this case, a colored light transmitting material is used in place of the light reflecting material 9.17. The light transmitting material may be made of any material that transmits light, such as glass or synthetic resin.

(3) The light reflecting material is not limited to the above-mentioned ceramic or printing,
Any material that reflects light such as glass, synthetic resin, metal, cloth (including non-woven fabric) may be used.

Further, if metal sputtering is applied thinly to the surface, a translucent metallic feel will be obtained, and if metal sputtering is applied thickly to the surface, a metallic color will be obtained. Furthermore, by providing (or not providing) a recess on the surface of the light reflecting material, N r
If an ox pattern is provided, patterns with different tones can be obtained due to the oxidation color development.

(4) In addition to soda glass, organic glass such as polymethyl methacrylate can also be used as the substrate.

However, when organic glass is used, the ECD must be formed on the glass at a temperature below its deformation temperature.

(5) In addition to ITO, T! 02, S n02 , Au
, AΩ, Pt, etc. can also be used. That is, any material may be used as long as it is electrically conductive and substantially transparent to light.

(6) In addition to N10x, the constituent substances of the oxidized coloring layer 13 include Ni(OH)x, Cr203, Ir(OH)
> , IrO, Rhox, Rh(OH)X
X, , Ru(OH)x, etc. can be used.

Further, even when forming the same oxidized coloring layer 13 of NiOx, it is also possible to perform the EB method using N1 tablets 1- and oxidize during evaporation to form NiOx.

(7) Sulfuric acid or the like can also be used as a constituent material of the liquid type ion donor layer B.

(8) Constituent materials of the solid-state ion donor layer 14, besides Ta205, IiF, SiO2, ZrO2
, Cr203, MQF2, CaF2, A f203
, Y203, Na-β-alumina, L·1+3N (Ll), etc. can be used. That is, any material can be selected as long as it allows ions to pass through but not electrons.

(9) The constituent substances of reduction color development 116.15 include WO
In addition to 3, MoO3, V205, Nb205, etc. can be used.

Effects of the Invention As detailed above, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily create multiple colors in an ECD without relying on the unique colors of the coloring layer, and if this ECD is driven in a matrix, multiple colors can be created. Qin has an excellent effect of providing a color screen.

[Brief Description of the Drawings] Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a first embodiment of the present invention as a liquid type ECD, Fig. 2 is a plan view of a plurality of ECDs arranged side by side, and Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the present invention as a liquid type ECD. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment embodied in an all-solid-state ECD, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of another example. 1.21... Electrochromic device (ECD) 8
...Ion donor layer, 9,17...Light reflecting material, 11
···substrate.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Any element (8, 11) constituting the electrochromic element (1, 21) is provided with a colored light reflecting material (9).
, 17) or an electrochromic device characterized by being provided with a colored light-transmitting material. 2. The electrochromic element (1) is a liquid type, and the colored light-reflecting material (9) or colored light-transmitting material is inserted into the electrolytic solution constituting the ion donor layer (8). An electrochromic device according to claim 1, characterized in that: 3. The electrochromic element is of an all-solid-state type or a transmission type, and the colored light-reflecting material (17) or colored light-transmitting material is provided on the outside of the transparent plate constituting the substrate (11). An electrochromic device according to claim 1. 4. The electrochromic element (1, 21) is a plurality of elements arranged side by side, and the three adjacent electrochromic elements (1, 21) are colored in red, green, blue, etc., respectively. The electrochromic device according to claim 1, characterized in that the three primary colors are necessary.